CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
FLIGHT AND PURSUIT OF RAVONINO AND RAFARAVAVY.
The fury of the Queen when she heard of the flight of Rafaravavy wasterrible, for this was the second of her favourite ladies-in-waiting whohad become Christians and deserted her Court in fear of their lives--Ra-Ruth, the fair little sister of Ravonino, having been the first.
Fortunately Ranavalona did not think of connecting the flight ofRafaravavy with the recent entertainments, so that suspicion did notattach to Mark and his friends. Neither did the executioner with theRomanised nose suspect them, for in the profound darkness he had notbeen able to see who it was that knocked the senses out of him; and whenafterwards he was told of the explosion that had occurred, he came tothe conclusion, (and told his friends), that a big stone, hurled intothe air at that time, had descended on his head and felled him. Whetherthe "friends" believed this or not we cannot say, but certain it is thatthey covertly rejoiced in the accident, for naturally the man of bloodwas no favourite!
As might be supposed, soldiers were at once despatched all over thecountry in search of the fugitive; and the Queen, relapsing into one ofher dark fits of cruelty, began to persecute the Christians moreseverely than ever. Still, Mark Breezy strove to influence her towardsmercy, and in some measure restrained her.
Meanwhile Ravonino and his party pushed on in hot haste towards theirplace of refuge in the wild forest.
The dangers to which they were exposed and the risks they ran on thisadventurous journey were too numerous to be related in detail. We canonly touch on a few of them here.
Laihova, it may be mentioned in passing, failed to join them, certainlynot from want of will, but because the place where he had concealedhimself was discovered while he lay awaiting the signal to join hisfriends. Two female relations who knew of his hiding-place were caught,convicted, if we may so put it, of Christianity! and put to the torture.Although true-hearted, these poor girls were so agonised by sufferingand terror that, in a moment of weakness, they disclosed the secret.But even among prison authorities there were found followers of Jesus--secretly, however, for fear of the tyrant Queen--and one of these sent aswift messenger to Laihova to warn him. Had the youth been an ordinaryman the warning would have been too late, for close on the heels of themessenger came the soldiers with his death-warrant. But Laihova wasgifted with cool courage and unusual speed of foot. Trust, also, in thecertainty of God's blessing, whether life or death should be hisportion, filled him with that spirit of enthusiastic energy which goesso far, in all circumstances of life, to ensure success. He soondistanced his pursuers, left them out of sight behind, and, finally,found refuge with a Christian friend, who hid him over an oven in hishouse when he had reached the last stage of exhaustion from hardrunning, and could not have advanced further without rest. The soldierscame up and searched the house while he was asleep, but happily did notobserve the oven! They remained there, however, over the night, andthus rendered it impossible for Laihova to join his friends at thattime.
Ravonino could not, of course, afford to delay. Knowing also that hisyoung friend was well able to take care of himself, and that his soul'sanchor was the Lord, he felt comparatively little anxiety in startingwithout him.
To let Rafaravavy have female companionship on the hazardous journey,her lover induced a Christian girl who had been named Sarah to accompanythem. This faithful creature was the means of saving their lives morethan once by giving timely warning of approaching danger.
The first place to which the fugitives directed their steps was avillage about fifty miles from the capital, where dwelt a Christian who,with his wife, offered them hospitality and protection. This man hadsent a noble message to the persecuted ones in the city. It ran thus:--
"Let all the Christians who are compelled to run away for their livescome to me. I will take care of them. As long as I am safe they aresafe, and as long as I have food they shall share it."
Not an hour's rest was taken until the house of their friend wasreached. Of course they were received with open arms. Food was placedbefore them, and mats were spread in a safe place on which they mightrest. But neither food nor repose would the fugitives take until theyhad joined the Christian family in thanking God for their escape and insinging His praise.
"Sing the hymn of dear Ramanisa," said Ravonino as he seated himself atthe side of Rafaravavy, after arranging her mat.
The host smiled as he turned over the leaves of a Malagasy hymn-book."All the fugitives like that hymn," he said.
"Do you wonder?" returned his guest. "Before the last great persecutionhe was one of our most faithful preachers of the Gospel, and whentrouble came he always forgot himself in his eager desire to help andcomfort others. Many a time has he guided and strengthened the Lord'speople when they have been compelled to fly,--to travel weary andfootsore by night, to wander in the dark forests, and hide in the gloomycaves. Wherever he went there was sunshine, because his heart was veryfull of the love of Jesus; and when he was led out to be speared, was henot faithful to the last? Perhaps we may be permitted to sing his ownhymn along with him some day before the throne. No wonder that we lovethe words of Ramanisa. They called him Josiah when he was baptized, buthe was Ramanisa when the Lord called him, and I think _that_ is the namethat is written in the Book of Life."
The hymn composed by this good native, which these Christians began tosing--and which is incorporated, as we have said, in the Malagasyhymn-book,--is still, and will doubtless continue to be, a greatfavourite with the Christians of Madagascar. The following is atranslation of three of the verses. _See Note 1_.
"Loud to the Lord your voices raise, Extol His name, exalt His praise; Publish the wonders of His hand O'er all the earth, in every land.
"Oh! God, our God, to Thee we cry, Jesus, the Saviour, be Thou nigh; Oh! sacred Spirit, hear our prayer, And save the afflicted from despair.
"Scarce can we find a place of rest, Save dens and caves, with hunger press'd; Yet Thy compassion is our bliss, Pilgrims amidst a wilderness."
Poor Rafaravavy had full proof of the truth embodied in these lines,both as to the affliction and the bliss, before many days were over.The soldiers being strong hardy men, burdened only with their arms, andwith little clothing, pushed after the three fugitives with so muchvigour that they arrived at the place where the latter had rested on thesecond day of their flight. While soldiers were thus close to them theutmost caution and close concealment were necessary. They remainedwhere they were, therefore, and every morning, before dawn, Ravoninostole out to a neighbouring mountain with Rafaravavy and her maid.There they lay hid among the craggy rocks until night-fall, when theyreturned to their friend's house.
But soon this place of concealment became known to the persecuting primeminister, Rainiharo, who directed the soldiers to search the mountainbefore going to the village. This they did, but did not find thefugitives, for, as it was cold that morning, they had agreed to run therisk of remaining in the house!
Failing to find those they sought for in the mountain, the soldiersentered the village and approached the house where they lay unperceivedby human eye, and it seemed as if at last Rafaravavy's doom was sealed.Other eyes, however,--very black and sharp ones--observed the enemy, andthe owners of these eyes--a flock of crows--rose in alarm at theirapproach.
"Oh!" exclaimed the handmaiden, Sarah, "the crows are at the rice Ispread out to dry!" and out she ran to rescue it. One glimpse of thesoldiers was enough. Sarah was equal to the occasion. Without even abackward glance she gave warning to those in the house, but cleverlycontinued her raid upon the crows, laughingly asking the men when shepassed them, "if they had come there to search for run-away Christians!"
"This way," whispered the host to his two guests when the warningreached him. Leading them to an inner room he made them creep under abed and covered them with a mat. As for the chair-bearers and theirburden, such adjuncts to Malagasy travel were too numerous and common inthe la
nd to attract much attention. Fortunately the soldiers werehungry, and, being eager for food, did not search the house with care,but during their stay of an hour poor Rafaravavy heard all they saidrespecting her and the orders that had been issued for her arrest anddeath. At the same time Ravonino became aware that his presence in theneighbourhood was known, though his complicity in the abduction of hiscompanion in distress, he fancied, had not been suspected.
That night the fugitives resumed their journey and travelled till dawn,when they again found safe refuge in the house of a sympathising friend.Thus they proceeded for several days and nights with the utmostcaution, for, wherever they went it was found that soldiers had beensent out in pursuit.
One night they approached a village where they knew they would be kindlyreceived, but had scarcely reached it when they learned that a party ofsoldiers were searching the neighbourhood for some other woman who hadrecently disappeared. They were compelled, therefore, to return to theplace they had left the day before. From this point they changed theirintended route, partly to throw the pursuers off the scent, if possible,and partly to seek temporary refuge at the house of an old woman who wasan aunt of Sarah.
"She's a real good Christian," said Sarah, when advising the visit, "andshe fears no one but God. If they ever kill my old aunt she will diesinging, or praying for her murderers."
Sure enough, when they reached the hut of the old woman, they heard hersinging hymns at the full pitch of her voice, quite regardless of thefact that she was breaking the law and that persecutors were swarming inthe land.
"Shelter you!" exclaimed this old woman, when her niece had mentionedthe cause of their visit, "yes, I will shelter you as long as my dearLord gives me the power to do so."
The need for friendly aid was great, for, even while the old womanspoke, a little girl came bounding into the hut saying that a party ofsoldiers were approaching.
"Run! meet them, child. Then turn and run away as if you were afraid ofthem. Make them chase you if you can. Run!"
The girl was intelligent. She bounded away, and the old woman, with adegree of activity that was wonderful at her age, led her visitors tothe back of her house and hid them in a pit. There they had to spendthat night while the aunt entertained their pursuers, but next morning,after the latter had left, their old hostess led them to a plantationclose at hand, where they remained concealed for several days, notdaring to move, for, at various times, they saw men who were in pursuitof them pass quite near to their hiding-place.
Here it was decided that the palanquin, or chair-bearers, should proceedno further, as they only increased the danger of discovery, and thatRavonino, Rafaravavy, and Sarah should proceed alone and on foot throughthe extensive forest which lay just beyond the place.
The first night all went well. The moon was clear enough to maketravelling easy, and no enemies were encountered, but the next evening,a little after sunset, on gaining the crest of a hill, they met almostface to face a small band of soldiers who were travelling in theopposite direction.
To crouch behind some rocks was the work of an instant. There was nothick underwood at the spot to conceal them. As Ravonino glancedquickly round, he saw that the only hope was to turn and run. Theyevidently had not been perceived, but what probability was there thatthe two trembling girls beside him could escape by such means?
"We must fly, dear one," he said, in desperation, putting his arm roundRafaravavy's waist.
"I cannot run," she said, while a look of resignation settled on herface. "Go, _you_ may escape, perhaps, if the Lord will, and bring ushelp. Leave us, we are ready to die."
"Leave you, Rafaravavy!" exclaimed the man, with a look almost oftriumph. "No--not until my God commands. May He help us now!"
While he spoke he observed a patch of rushes growing at the side of thepath. As a last resource he ran in among them, leading or ratherdragging the two girls. To their joy they found that the rushes grew ina pool of water. It was very shallow, but by lying down and sinkingthemselves into the mud of the deepest part they managed to coverthemselves completely, except their heads, which the rushes effectuallyconcealed.
A few minutes later and the soldiers, reaching the crest of the hill,halted to look round and chat. If it had been broad day at the time thefugitives must undoubtedly have been observed, but it was growing dark.For a few terrible minutes the men conversed--always on the same theme--the capture and death of Rafaravavy! Then they resumed their march anddisappeared among the forest trees.
It was a deplorable plight in which the fugitives now found themselves.Soaking wet, covered with mud from their necks downwards, and withoutthe prospect of any shelter for the coming night save that afforded bythe open forest. Poor Sarah lost heart entirely for a little time andburst into tears, but Rafaravavy, putting her hand on the maid'sshoulder, said encouragingly, "`The Lord reigneth. We will not fearwhat man can do unto us.' Will you pray for us?" she added, turning totheir protector.
Ravonino at once kneeled; the two girls sank down beside him, and in fewbut earnest, simple words he prayed for help in the all-prevailing nameof Jesus.
The vigour of body which flowed from the prayer was no fanciful emotionor miraculous effect. The confidence resulting from faith in God, andthe joy of soul and consequent flow of warm blood, were not less naturalconsequences of prayer than direct answers to it would have been. Theyrose from their knees refreshed, and walked on with renewed energy for aconsiderable time; but at last Rafaravavy was fairly overcome withfatigue, and an irresistible desire to sleep. Her maid, being of a morerobust physical fibre, was not so much overcome, and declared that shecould still go on easily.
Ravonino at last solved the difficulty by taking his lady-love in hisstrong arms. She submitted with a sleepy protest, and her little headwas no sooner on the man's shoulder than she was fast asleep.
And here again the power of joy to give strength became abundantlyevident, for when he fairly had Rafaravavy in his arms, a glow ofenthusiasm and thankfulness pervaded his entire being, so that he feltas if he had scarcely walked any distance at all that day! Hisendurance, however, was not destined to be further tested that night,for he had not gone far when he came unexpectedly on the hut of awood-cutter, who received him hospitably, though, being taciturn, it wasnot easy to ascertain what were his views, as to the religion for whichso many people were then suffering.
Strange to say, during all this trying time, these fugitives foundcomfort not only from the Word of God, but from the _Pilgrim's Progress_of Bunyan! This work had been translated into the Malagasy language bythe English missionaries, and many passages in it were found to besingularly appropriate to, and comforting in the circumstances in whichthe persecuted people were placed. Eight copies of the great allegoryhad been transcribed by the native Christians themselves for theircommon use. These being lent from one household to another the detailsof the story soon spread. Naturally those who possessed strong memorieslearned much of it by heart, and thus it became a book which theafflicted Christians prized next to the Bible.
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Note 1. Extracted from _Madagascar, its Missions and Martyrs_, by E.Prout, for the London Missionary Society.